Kaara: Thank you for the compliments, I'm glad you like my story. I'll try to keep it updated, so you won't have to suffer murderous tendencies, mkay? xD

The Gandhara: Yeah, I guess I just can't bring myself to write Ino as most people see her. And thanks for pointing that out, I hadn't even realized it. It's on now.

deathrosekitty: Wow, you really like Ino fics, huh? This is my first time writing her, though I've read a few...

Tensai Seko: Thank you, I'm glad you like!

I don't own Naruto. Don't sue.

After a long and silent walk, Neji finally brought Ino a small grove in the woods. Without speaking, he suddenly stopped, and crossed his arms, looking around.

"Is this the spot?" Ino asked, irritation heightening. It would be nice if he could tell her this, not just stop in the middle of some random circle. Did he think she was some sort of telepathic nin?

No, he probably just doesn't care. Ino rationalized, and this just made her angrier. That was, of course, simply because she liked being the center of attention. Nothing more.

"Hai."

Ino quickly gave up any attempts to converse with the Hyuuga. After all, she had come here for another raven-haired male. And he was the one that Ino was concerned about. So, she stood there, letting the silence fill the small clearing.

Just as the lack of noise was starting to get to the usually noisy Ino, a small voice traveled into the clearing. Both genins heard it at the same time, head jerking in the direction. Yes! Sasuke-kun's here! He'll be so happy that I've come to support him! Ino thought, grinning happily. Neji remained taciturn.

Finally the voice was near enough for the two to distinguish words, and half a sentence came floating through the silence. "...Whether you like it or not!"

Neji frowned. "That is not Sasuke's voice."

Ino scowled as well, but in disgust. "That is Sakura-baka." She informed him distastefully. "I would know that annoying, high pitched, whiny voice anywhere."

Neji didn't answer, or even acknowledge her attempted enlightenment. Instead his eyes narrowed in an irritated glare, coincidently matching the one that his companion was giving him. I hope my Sasuke-kun crushes him into pretty-boy pieces! She thought irately, giving death glares to the back of Neji's head, knowing fully well that he could still see them.

The noise that was a constant chatter from Sakura, with an occasional, disinterested "Mm." from Sasuke came closer, until there was a rustling of leaves, and Sasuke emerged, quickly followed by Sakura. Sasuke looked annoyed, Sakura looked worried. She was the only one, whereas Sasuke's expression was quickly mirrored by the other two within the clearing.

"What is she doing here?" Sasuke asked, glancing at Ino, who broke into a happy grin and waved gleefully at him.

"Followed me so she could see you..." Neji glanced at Sakura. Ino was pleased to see that the pink haired kunoichi couldn't stand up to Neji's intense gaze either, and her eyes were also driven to the dirt. "...Also." Then the Hyuuga turned to Sasuke, though he didn't seem affected by the other male's gaze in the slightest. "I thought we agreed to keep this secret, to keep this from happening."

"I did not encourage her to come, nor did I inform anyone." Sasuke answered coolly, onyx eyes glancing at Sakura sharply. "I was also followed."

Eh? How did she find out? Ino thought lividly, now aiming her death glares at Sakura, only to be met by Sakura shooting the blonde some of her own. Did Tori tell her as well? Sakura-baka isn't smart enough to do any spying on her own!

Some ways away

"Nara Shikamaru, how dare you interfere in my plans!"

"What troublesome thing are you blaming on me now, Tori?"

"Don't act innocent! Did you overhear me talking to Ino, or did you somehow stumble around and manage to spy out about the fight on your own?"

"Neither Sasuke nor Neji are as good about hiding things as they'd like to think. Maybe Sakura found out on her own."

"Or maybe you decided to discuss it loudly when Sakura was nearby."

"Accidents happen."

Back at the clearing

Neji gave an irritated sigh, but did nothing more. Silence once again filled the small circle, and sunlight started to trickle in, the sun just starting to rise up over the trees. There was a sudden moment of peace, and Ino forgot she was here to witness a fight. Instead, she simply enjoyed the moment, which later on she found rather odd, seeing as the majority of the people she was in company of she wasn't on excellent terms with.

Then, of course, Sakura decided to break the moment. She turned to Sasuke, frowning once again, and opened her mouth to speak. Ino quickly decided that Sakura had had plenty of time with Sasuke, and it was her turn to show Sasuke what an excellent person she could be.

"Sasuke-kun, I've come here to show you support! I'll be cheering you on!" Ino announced, quickly covering the small gap and flinging her arms around Sasuke. Over his shoulder, she stuck her tongue out at Sakura, who was looking absolutely furious.

"Ino, how can you support Sasuke-kun fighting for needless reasons? Just to prove who's more superior." Sakura asked, in an exasperated voice that made it clear she had been saying this before, probably to Sasuke.

"Because, I support Sasuke-kun, no matter what he does." Ino answered snobbishly, smirking at Sakura.

Neji cleared his throat, looking even more irritated then before. "Sasuke, if you don't mind, remove yourself from that girl." A short pause. "You can't fight me with her draped around your neck."

Ino sighed forlornly, and removed her arms from Sasuke, shooting Neji a venomous look. Stupid boy. Fighting can wait, can't it? She sulked, moving to the edge of the clearing.

Sakura, however, was in a less subordinate mood. She crossed her arms stubbornly, glaring at Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun, this is not the time to fight! Kakashi-sensei told us to meet him-"

"And he'll be two hours late, like he always is." Sasuke replied calmly. "Go wait with Naruto, Sakura. I'm busy." There was a small pause, then, like an afterthought, "And take Ino with you."

"B-But Sasuke!" Both kunoichis started at the same time, abruptly stopping to glare at each other.

"Sasuke." This time, it was Neji naming the other male. "Please remove your little fans."

"Ino. Sakura."

"I don't see why I have to go! I just want to support you, Sasuke-kun!"

"Ino-pig, you're not helping! Sasuke, I only want to help-"

Sasuke crossed his arm, and glared coldly at Sakura. "I. Don't. Want. Your. Help." He said slowly, and poisonously. His entire body was frozen ice, except for the angry fire in his eyes. I hate it when he gets like that. Ino thought sadly. Stupid Sakura-baka.

Sakura stared at Sasuke for several seconds, then made a face, and wheeled around, stomping off. Ino knew that as soon as she got out of hearing, the pink-haired nin would burst into tears. She looked after her, torn between staying for Sasuke, or comforting Sakura. She had been her best friend, after all...

Then, the sense that someone was watching her caught up, and Ino looked around. Sasuke was calmly doing some quick warm-ups, unconcerned with anyone else. Neji, however, was staring right at her. Then, he made a nearly imperceptible head movement. But Ino understood.

I guess I'll go talk to Sakura... Ino thought. Without a word to either male, she turned and vanished into the brush, following her friend's trail.

I hope no one was looking forward to reading Neji and Sasuke's battle. I'm horrible at writing fighting scenes, I'm always finding ways to weasel out of them. And this fic is no exception. Maybe I'll start reading more fighting fics, and brush up on them...

So, this is longer then the other ones, I must be improving. I wrote this late in the night, so it might seem a bit odd. It seems odd to me. I might edit this later. I'll tell everyone in the author's notes if I do.